West Side Folk

Lucy Kaplansky (Lucy Wainwright Roche opens)

Barely out of high school, Lucy Kaplansky found herself part of the vibrant New York City songwriter scene, and was soon singing in a duo with the also up-and-coming Shawn Colvin. The New York Times said “it was easy to predict stardom” for her. But Lucy instead pursued a Doctorate in Psychology and became a practicing therapist for several years, while being an in-demand back up singer for numerous artists' recordings. Finally, Shawn Colvin produced Lucy's debut CD, in 1994, and since then Lucy has been one of the leading lights on the contemporary folk scene, with 6 CDs under her own name, as well as such collaborations as Cry Cry Cry (with Richard Shindell and Dar Williams) and Red Horse (with Eliza Gilkyson and John Gorka). In recent years. motherhood has enhanced the emotional depth of her songwriting, as she explores love, loss and family from a new perspective. She's “a truly gifted performer with a bag full of enchanting songs” (the New Yorker).

Lucy Wainwright Roche, the daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Suzzy Roche, grew up both in Greenwich Village and on the road with the various musicians in her family. But she did not immediately pursue a musical career, instead getting a Masters in Education and spending several years teaching young children. But after touring as a singer with her brother Rufus, she decided to pursue her own songwriting and singing career, with the New York Times saying she has the best qualities of both her parents and “a voice as clear as a bell.”

Patty Larkin (Birdsong at Morning opens)

Patty Larkin has been redefining the boundaries of folk-urban pop music for 25 years with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising vocals and lyrics. Acoustic Guitar hails her “soundscape experiments” while Rolling Stone praises her “evocative and subtle sonic shading.” She has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly) and a “drop-dead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter).

Patty Larkin is part of the urban-folk/pop music phenomenon that spun off of the singer/songwriter explosion of the seventies, reinterpreting traditional folk melodies, rock, pop, bossa nova, drawing on anything from Dylan (Bob) to Dylan (Thomas). A self described “guitar driven songwriter,” Larkin has wound her way through soundscapes of evocative vocals, inventive guitar wizardry and imaginative lyrics.

Patty Larkin is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Music degree from Berklee College of Music, recognized for her outstanding contributions to contemporary music, alongside synthesizer pioneer Dr. Robert Moog. Patty Larkin has won an unprecedented 11 Boston Music Awards and is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumnae Award from Berklee College of Music.

In 2010, she celebrates a quarter of a century of music making with 25, a recording 25 love songs reworked with voice and guitar and 25 friends along the way. One of those special friends, Alan Williams, the songwriter and lead singer of Birdsong at Morning, joins Patty at this concert. He makes “art music both unpretentious and ravishing” (Boston Herald).

Lori McKenna (with Mark Erelli opening)

We're tremendously excited to present Lori McKenna in her West Side Folk debut, after many years of being huge fans of hers. Lori McKenna has performed on many stages. Having begun her career in the Boston coffeehouse scene, her 1998 self-released debut, Paper Wings & Halo earned her performances at the Newport Folk Festival and Lilith Fair. 2001's Pieces of Me took her further from home with headliners in Nashville, New York, Philadelphia and throughout the northeast. When 2004's Bittertown caught the attention of Faith Hill, McKenna joined the most successful concert tour in country music history, McGraw and Hill's Soul2Soul Tour. With strong support and the release of Unglamorous in 2007, McKenna appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, the CMA's and on country music's most famous stage- the Grand Ole Opry.

But now this mother of five from Stoughton, MA is returning to her roots. After a year-long hiatus from touring, spent penning songs for the likes of Tim McGraw, Mandy Moore and Faith Hill, the prolific singer songwriter, armed with a collection of new songs, returns to the road and the fans who inspire her. “I miss performing in intimate venues, where the audience can read you. That's where you have to be the most honest,” McKenna admits.

Rolling Stone praises her “perky, sharp twang reminiscent of Dixie Chick Natalie Maines ... and a gift for detailed storytelling” while the NY Times says she “has a knack for aching melodies and telling details.” American Songwriter notes the emotional octane in her voice and the way she drips details like candle wax, searing what she sees into your flesh. That voice-a silvery wisp, then a deeply guttural thrust-carries power and nuance with equal ease.

Opening for Lori McKenna as well as backing her on stage is acclaimed songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Erelli, who in addition to backing Lori McKenna in front of 15,000 people each night on the Faith Hill and Tim McGraw tour, has also provided his musical prowess on tours by Catie Curtis, Josh Ritter, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. His CD Delivered was praised everywhere from Vintage Guitar to the Huffington Post, with the Washington Post saying “Erelli addresses tough issues (war, development, love, post-9/11) with the grit of John Hiatt and the melancholy beauty of Ron Sexsmith.” As All Music Gude says “When it comes to providing thoughtful, compelling folk-rock and Americana, Erelli is a masterful expert.” Mark just released a terrific new CD, Little Vigils.

Catie Curtis

The New Yorker calls her “a folk-rock goddess.” Rolling Stone says “In a clear, deceptively gentle voice, she can turn on a dime and thrill the listener with unforeseen power and emotion. Intricate acoustic picking sometimes slants its way into jazz territory, recalling Joan Armatrading, and her staunchly feminist messages further the comparison. But Curtis is very much an original, and a refreshing departure from the stale formula offered by many of today's singer-songwriters.” As Scott Alarik of the Boston Globe notes,“Any fool can write a love-gone wrong song; it takes a real genius to write a love-gone-right one. No urban songwriter does that better than Curtis.” Catie's studio work, engaging live shows and impressive touring career in the US and Europe earn rave reviews and wide recognition. Her songs have been featured on Dawson's Creek, Felicity, Alias, Chicago Hope, and Grey's Anatomy, as well as in several independent films. She's toured with Dar Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter and as part of Lilith Fair, and in March of 2006, Catie was named grand prize winner of the International Songwriting Competition, for her song “People Look Around”, co-written with Mark Erelli. The judges, (including Tom Waits, Loretta Lynn, Macy Gray, and Sonny Rollins) chose the winner from a field of 15,000 entries from 82 countries.